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Telshor crime spree suspects now charged in home burglary

LAS CRUCES - The Las Cruces Police Department reports the two teenagers suspected of breaking into and burglarizing several Telshor area businesses in February have now been charged in a residential burglary in which a handgun was discharged.

Telshor crime spree suspects now charged in home burglary

LAS CRUCES - The Las Cruces Police Department reports the two teenagers suspected of breaking into and burglarizing several Telshor area businesses in February have now been charged in a residential burglary in which a handgun was discharged.

The 15- and 14-year-old are now charged with one count each of residential burglary, conspiracy and larceny more than $500. The 15-year-old was also charged with one count of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

The most recent charges, filed Friday, March 17, stem from the March 8 burglary of a home on the 2000 block of Bugatti Drive, LCPD reported in a news release.

Officers learned that the homeowner arrived home at about noon and found two juvenile boys in her home, the release stated. The woman yelled out to the boys who both fled out the back door carrying backpacks, police said. As the woman and a neighbor chased one of the boys on Bugatti Drive, police said, the suspect — later identified as the older teen — displayed a handgun and fired one round into the air.

The release stated that police were dispatched to the call but were unable to locate the two boys.

Investigators learned the two boys were seen later that day in an orange Plymouth Neon and retrieving backpacks from behind bushes near a restaurant a short distance away from the home that was burglarized. Police said a witness identified the 14-year-old from a photo posted to Facebook which identified him as a suspect in a spree of burglaries committed on Feb. 12.

Investigators believe the teens were aided by a male relative who was driving the Neon. Detectives are continuing their investigation and additional charges are possible.

The Sun-News is not releasing the names or photos of the juveniles.

In the Feb. 12 incident, the teens were each charged with six counts of non-residential burglary, two counts of criminal damage to property over $1,000, three counts of criminal damage to property under $1,000 and three counts of larceny.

Both juveniles were arrested March 13 on the charges related to the Telshor burglaries and remain incarcerated at the Doña Ana County Detention Center. Warrants on the most recent charges were served on the boys at the detention center, police said.